Pentax Optio S6
Manufacturer: Pentax Part number: 18493
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Pentax Optio S6 is a well-built, compact, and attractive camera that is a pleasure to use for snapshots but won't dazzle with its photo quality.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Pentax Optio S6 price range: $314.99
- Reviewed by: Shams Tarek
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 12/05/2005
- Released on: 10/15/2005
The good: Compact and attractive design; well built; easy to use.
The bad: Photos suffer from some lens artifacts; slow; little to no manual exposure control.
The bottom line: The Pentax Optio S6 is a well-built, compact, and attractive camera that is a pleasure to use for snapshots but won't dazzle with its photo quality.
The 4.3-ounce S6 is a clean block of silver metal dominated by a 2.5-inch LCD screen and the usual array of point-and-shoot controls on the back. In addition to the standard power, shutter, zoom, playback, and menu buttons, there is a programmable function button that shifts the four-way controller to give direct access to four additional settings. Combined, the camera offers one-touch access to drive, flash, autofocus, and shooting modes as well as options such as image size, compression, white balance, and ISO sensitivity. Achieved through a clean button layout that complements an easy-to-use menu system, the S6 is a pleasure to use for snapshooters and more advanced users alike. There is no optical viewfinder, a feature being omitted from more and more manufacturers trying to squeeze bigger LCDs into ever-smaller cameras.
While the Pentax Optio S6 offers nothing terribly exciting in the features department, users will appreciate several conveniences with practical benefits. The LCD can be shut off to save battery power, though the lack of an optical viewfinder makes shooting this way difficult. An SD card slot supplements the 23MB of built-in memory, and several image parameters--sharpness, saturation, and contrast--can be adjusted beyond the default settings. There are also 13 built-in color-effect controls, including black-and-white, sepia, and other solid color tints, and a brightness filter to correct a too-dark image after it has been shot. While there are no manual or semiautomatic exposure modes, there are 13 scene modes besides Program Auto. A TV-quality movie mode captures 30fps, 640x480-pixel MPEG-4 movies using the DivX encoder. The 37.5mm-to-112.5 mm (35mm-film equivalent) lens is pretty slow at f/2.7 to f/5.2. It's also a poor macro performer, working at only the widest angle with a closest-focusing distance of 5.9 inches.
The Pentax Optio S6 feels snappy when operating the lens, menus, and image playback, but it lumbers during shooting. It takes 4.9 seconds to fire off a shot after pressing the power button, 5.2 seconds between shots without flash, and 1.5 seconds to focus on and capture a high-contrast test subject. Continuous shooting is unimpressive at a maximum 1.2fps.
The S6 also suffers from less than stellar photo quality. While many of its flaws aren't noticeable in common snapshots, discerning eyes looking at enlargements will be disappointed. Numerous lens flaws contribute to corner softness and vignetting (darkening of the corners), as well as a slight and asymmetrical barrel distortion--in which straight lines bend outward--that remains, oddly, in the telephoto end, where lines usually curve inward. There's also a noticeable green fringing around moderately backlit objects. Both of these oddities can likely be attributed to Pentax's new lens design. The sensor is remarkably clean until ISO 400, where it exhibits an ugly multicolored noise pattern. But it also yields a sometimes oversharpened, videocam look with white halos around high-contrast areas, as well as poor shadow detail. All is not poor in the S6's image, though. Colors, including flesh tones, are natural and pleasing, and flash exposure is even and accurate, with an additional Soft Flash option for close-ups.
The Pentax Optio S6 is a great camera--as long as you're shooting slow-moving subjects for 4x6-inch prints or Web galleries. For real snapshot photography, it's just OK.
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User reviews
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good for everything except low light shots
by smamagka on December 5, 2005
Pros: small size, amazing video, huge display, nice design
Cons: grainy pictures in low light conditions
Summary: I had an Optio S4 before this one, because i value small size/sturdy cameras that i can carry very easily in all circumstances.
I got this one, because the ...Summary: I had an Optio S4 before this one, because i value small size/sturdy cameras that i can carry very easily in all circumstances.
I got this one, because the size/weight and quality of the design are simply the best compared with ultraportables of sony/casio elixim/etc.
I also liked the very big display of this one, the 30fps 640x480 divx video and the 6MPixels.
But actually taking pictures, with this one was a little bit dissapointed. Usually i take pictures in rooms with low light and i dont like to use the flash, because it distorts skin color. In these conditions i think my old s4 was even better.
In all other conditions the camera was simply perfect. Really good for taking pictures outdoors or in well lit rooms.
The video is really amazing (but divx doesnt work on my girlfriend's mac yet). The software ACDSee for Pentax V.2 is really good. I have followed ACDSee in all its versions during the last 10 years and this last one is a big improvement.
buy for the size, sturdiness, display, video
dont buy for photos with limited light4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great if you get one that works.
by jdreis on December 5, 2005
Pros: Small, many Features, post capture editing.
Cons: Battery capacity, CCD Problems, Poor Customer Service, AC adaptor and case not included,
Summary: This camera is great when it works. I ordered mine over the internet and unfortunately it didn't work properly when I received it. Pentax is encountering problems with the ...
Summary: This camera is great when it works. I ordered mine over the internet and unfortunately it didn't work properly when I received it. Pentax is encountering problems with the CCDs in some of their products. They don't list the S6 as one of them, but I think that's only because it's a relatively new model and they haven't received enough complaints yet. Their customer service/technical help leaves a lot to be desired. I'm out $300+ and without a camera while the S6 is being sent back to Pentax for repair..." so they can take a look at it..." their words. If you decide to purchase this camera, do it at a point of sale where you can make sure it works properly before buying or at least return it in person.
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nightmare Camera
by mwootten72 on July 28, 2006
Pros: It's small.
Cons: The auto focus is a joke and the picture quality resembles shots with a cellphone.
Summary: I used to own an Optio S5i which I really liked. Six months after I bought the camera, it died. I sent it off to Pentax for repair, waited 5 ...
Summary: I used to own an Optio S5i which I really liked. Six months after I bought the camera, it died. I sent it off to Pentax for repair, waited 5 weeks, and the camera was shipped back to me without ever being inspected....
I called the President of Customer Service at Pentax who apologized profusely and offered me a new S6. I was thrilled until I received it; I realized that that my old 2 megapixel Nikon took better images than this piece of c**p.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Camera with a lot of buts
by bobkafato on June 12, 2006
Pros: Size, weight, quality, LCD, video
Cons: Slow, Slow, Slow
Summary: I've owned Pentax S4 and everything in between whenever they come out with a new one. I bought two of these S6's. I stick with Pentax for their ...
Summary: I've owned Pentax S4 and everything in between whenever they come out with a new one. I bought two of these S6's. I stick with Pentax for their leadership in how small they can make a great camera. S6 is the best yet, however the shot to shot speed is horrificly slow...nothing like standing in front of an audience of 200 people waiting for me to take my pictures. The new for Pentax style of the hidden door battery/mem card compartment I really disliked at first, but now I really like it. One of my S6's has busted though, the lens motor whirrs and is stuck out after someone (who was drunk) dropped it. Am evaluating my next camera purchase, and after buying 6 Pentax S series cameras over the past 3 years I think I'm going to try something else because the slow shot to shot speed is a real turnoff. On the bright side, the video quality is really good for a camera so small...and the file sizes at 640 by 480 aren't much bigger than their old 320 by 240 size. hey, you're not going to get AMAZING video out of it, so set your expectations accordingly and you'll be impressed like I am. I'd say if you are looking for video predominantly, this is the puppy to get. I have a 2 GB SD card in it, and I've never even gotten close to 1 MB before the battery dies. If Pentax is going to stay alive in this market they are going to have to get shot to shot speed up into leadership range, because I can't imagine customers are going to be happy at this current speed which is probably near the slowest on the market.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Like Mary Poppins bag this camera hold more than it seems to be able to.
by aloyolac on April 5, 2006
Pros: High resolution video in DivX. Tons of functions.
Cons: External zoom. Uses special battery.
Summary: Little and with a big screen this camera don?t have mechanical dial, but just digital buttons. The only external mechanic part is the zoom that pop up when is ...
Summary: Little and with a big screen this camera don?t have mechanical dial, but just digital buttons. The only external mechanic part is the zoom that pop up when is turned on.
Is very easy navigate trough the menu and select all it functions. The pictures have a great quality and have a lots of functions I never saw before in a beginner user camera, like information about light, showed in a graphic while you are aiming, exposure time, that you can change to over or under exposure an image, and more. It can show a grid in the screen to help to composite. Also the screen can be turned of to save battery.
A function that impressed me is the one to take pictures to animals. In the menu one can select cat or dog and the color of it. After that a focus frame will follow the animal if it moves. I guess is good for taking pictures to babies when they move too much.
Other great function is the panoramic assistant. Once take the first picture one select the direction of the next and it will show transparent in the screen part of the border of the last picture, so is just matter of fit it and the results are great with any joining program.
The reason I got this camera is because the ability to take video in 640x480 with ant shake and encode in Divx. The quality is outstanding and very close to what I got with a camcorder. It record audio and playback audio as well. Is possible to edit the videos in the same camera as the pictures too; save frames, crop images, etc.
I recommend get another battery and uses with a big SD card.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This camera is horrible.. I plan on returning it by weeks end.
by PRMike on March 13, 2006
Pros: Easy to use.
Cons: Large LCD causes short battery life and with no view finder you cannot turn off LCD to save on Batteries.
Summary: If you plan on using this camera all day be sure to bring a few spare batteries. This camera has a very large LCD (nice plus) but it draind the ...
Summary: If you plan on using this camera all day be sure to bring a few spare batteries. This camera has a very large LCD (nice plus) but it draind the batteries too quickly. Also there is not view finder so you can turn the LCD off and save batteries if you are running low.
The picture quality is not consistent. Quality ranges from decent to horrible. The camera also does not offer a good feature for taking low light photos.
Save you time and money and pick a different camera!!!!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent camera with nice photo and DiVX Video Recording!
by leovigildo on February 22, 2006
Pros: Compact, Easy Menu, DiVX Video Recording
Cons: Must sellect apropiate Photo Type of Shoot for great photo
Summary: I just brought this camera on my trip to Taiwan and must say I'm very impressed by its compact size, case and photo quality and it's direct DiVX ...
Summary: I just brought this camera on my trip to Taiwan and must say I'm very impressed by its compact size, case and photo quality and it's direct DiVX video encoding. Great purchase!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This camera is a waste of money
by HlfMoonBay on February 13, 2006
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
Summary: I bought this camera the beginning of this month when my Canon got the dreaded E-18 code. This broke my heart, because my Canon is an excellent camera.
This Optio ...Summary: I bought this camera the beginning of this month when my Canon got the dreaded E-18 code. This broke my heart, because my Canon is an excellent camera.
This Optio S-6 has poor picture quality. The 'sport' mode takes only blurry pictures. I have three other cameras that can download on my computer, all from different manufacturers, ONLY this one doesn't come up automatically. That AC software is the absolute WORST. We have pictures on the camera and we cannot download them. I have tried everything I know, including several removals and restorals of the software. The camera doesn't even 'show'. When I try to 'acquire' images, it keeps throwing me into AOL then on to a webpage for that AC software. That page asks me for money to download their product. I downloaded a 'trial' and received an 'unlock' code a full day later. When I attempt to use THAT, it only keeps throwing me to a title page.
This camera is a total waste of money, time and causes only frustration. I am returning it to Costco.
In the future, it's Canon all the way for me!1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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ok camera for 150$
by zorba199 on October 22, 2009
Pros: overall size, nice size screen, simple, nice features, decent battery
Cons: picture quality mediocre, overall aesthetic look: simpler would have been better
Summary: This is not a bad camera, but I'm also not very excited. I used to have the earlier model S5, whose looks (except for the handle) I like much ...
Summary: This is not a bad camera, but I'm also not very excited. I used to have the earlier model S5, whose looks (except for the handle) I like much better. The looks of this model are cheaper. Performance is ok, picture quality not very good, but better than a cell phone(duh..) as someone said. I would only buy it at a very good price, around 150.
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Nice camera, but could be better
by phazer35 on April 7, 2007
Pros: Compact, easy to use, nice pictures
Cons: no viewfinder, slow to focus and shoot
Summary: I like this camera for its size and pretty good picture quality. But be careful with the display screen, I had in my pocket for a few minutes one night ...
Summary: I like this camera for its size and pretty good picture quality. But be careful with the display screen, I had in my pocket for a few minutes one night and must have bumped someting and ruined the lcd screen. Had it fixed locally, took a week and cost me 150 bucks. I havent had any other problems. I have taken some action shots and had suprisingly good results on the auto setting, you just need to time it right. Good camera for the money, maybe not portrait quality but for the avg person pretty good.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Pentax
- Part number: 18493
- Description: The PENTAX Optio S series is all grown up with 6.0 megapixels and a gorgeous chassis, but it never outgrew the mint tin. The new PENTAX Optio S6 slides right in. This latest tiny digital features a generous 2.5 inch monitor, 6.0 megapixels, and a powerful 3X zoom sliding lens system. Slim is still in, and the Optio S6 offers the slimmest PENTAX digital body available. Expect substance and style to blend perfectly in the PENTAX Optio S6.
General
- Product Type Digital camera
- Point-and-shoot highlights A slim profile makes this camera easy to carry. A panoramic assist function is provided in this camera, making it ideal for vacation pictures. Video capture ability adds convenience for the user.
- Width 3.4 in
- Depth 0.7 in
- Height 2.1 in
- Weight 0.2 lbs
- Body Material Aluminum alloy
Main Features
- Resolution 6 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 6,360,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 6,000,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO 80, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO auto
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Food, Text, Flower, Sunset, Landscape, Night scene, Sports mode, Surf & snow, Portrait mode, Panorama assist
- Special Effects Slim, Soft, Sepia, Illustration, Black & White, Black & White Red filter, Black & White Blue filter, Black & White Green filter
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 4 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Multi-segment, Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Shade, Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light
- White Balance Bracketing Yes
- Digital Video Format MPEG-4
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Continuous Shooting Speed 1.6 frames per second
- Remote Control Optional
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture MPEG-4 - 640 x 480, MPEG-4 - 640 x 480, MPEG-4 - 320 x 240, MPEG-4 - 320 x 240
Memory / Storage
- Supported Flash Memory SD Memory Card
- Integrated Memory 23 MB
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Fine JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 53 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 80 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 121 - With 128MB card, Fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 67 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 101 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 151 - With 128MB card, Fine JPEG 2304 x 1728 : 81 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 2304 x 1728 : 122 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 2304 x 1728 : 183 - With 128MB card, Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 96 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 144 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 216 - With 128MB card, Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 134 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 202 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 303 - With 128MB card, Fine JPEG 1024 x 768 : 245 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 1024 x 768 : 367 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 1024 x 768 : 551 - With 128MB card, Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 449 - With 128MB card, Normal JPEG 640 x 480 : 674 - With 128MB card, Economy JPEG 640 x 480 : 1011 - With 128MB card
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Backlight mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 6 in - 16.7 ft
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 6.2 mm - 18.6 mm - F/2.7-5.2
- Focal Length 6.2 mm - 18.6 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 38 - 114 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) 5
- Min Focus Range 15.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 15-50cm
- Lens Aperture F/2.7-5.2
- Optical Zoom 3 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 5 group(s) / 6 element(s)
- Features Aspherical lens, Built-in lens shield
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 10 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Direct print, Audio recording, Auto power save, Date/time stamp, Histogram display, Resizing an image, PictBridge support, PRINT Image Matching, Digital image rotation, RGB primary color filter, Digital image stabilization (video mode)
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 232,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Technology Electret condenser
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x USB, 1 x DC power input
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
- Software Drivers & Utilities
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows 98, MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows 98 SE, Apple Mac OS 9.2 or later
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive
Miscellaneous
- Carrying Case None
- Included Accessories Carrying strap
- Cables Included A/V cable, USB cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Pentax D-L18
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 710 mAh ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Pentax
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Pentax products on Shopper.com
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- Address:
35 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, CO - Phone: 1-800-877-0155
- Fax: 303-799-9213
- Address:
